The Chinese word **久仰** (jiǔ yǎng) is a compound phrase formed by combining two characters: **久**, meaning "for a long time," and **仰**, meaning "to admire" or "to look up to." It is an idiomatic expression that literally translates to "have long admired," and it functions as a set polite greeting used specifically when meeting someone for the first time whom you respect or have heard about. It is not a descriptive term formed through grammatical rules but a fixed social formula, originating from classical Chinese etiquette, where it conveys deep respect by implying one's admiration for the other person has existed long before the actual meeting.